Joseph Smith a seventeen year old- African American- young man who just graduated from high school and got a job at the mill. Still living at home with his mother, father, and three siblings felt is was time to move out on his own. His older brother has made different plans for Joe. "I can't believe my own brother would deceive me so easily-for fear of his own destiny." Finding himself in the Vietnam War-fighting to stay alive; pushing emotional feelings deep inside, living in the marsh of death and fear, having to step up and be a man, then deciding to forgive. When the soldiers returned home from the war- they were treated like the enemy- they were called baby killers and drug addicts. Joe wanted to better his life- when he returned he attended a technical trade school and opened his own business, but the war was not over for him yet.